(Pictured: Elena Manuel ’28)

Students who visit Illinois College for the first time often sense something different right away. A president who greets students by name and knows what’s happening in their lives. Professors who linger in the dining hall and speak directly with students about the programs they lead. Research, study abroad, community-based projects and internships (experiences often reserved for graduate students at larger institutions) are available to Illinois College students from their very first year. A historic campus alive with technology-rich spaces, school spirit and hands-on learning.

As Illinois College approaches its 200-year bicentennial in 2029, this moment invites reflection not only on the Hilltop’s long history, but on the purpose and partnership that continue to carry the College forward.

“The Hilltop is a place where potential turns into purpose,” said Stephanie Chipman, vice president of external relations. “From the moment students arrive, they are challenged to think bigger, lead boldly and apply what they’re learning in real-world settings. Through a campus culture that expects engagement, IC students graduate with momentum and the confidence to step directly into meaningful careers or advanced study.”

That clarity of purpose is one reason Illinois College has remained resilient at a time when higher education faces increasing financial, demographic and cultural pressures. While many institutions have expanded away from their core mission or closed, IC has remained anchored in what it does best: educating undergraduate students in a deeply personal, student-centered environment.

For Elena Manuel ’28, a second-year student majoring in behavioral health, that environment was clear from her very first visit.

“I only visited two colleges. I was set on the first one, but my mom encouraged me to visit her college, too. When I came here, that’s when I knew," she said, "I remember walking around campus with my mom and thinking, this is where I can see myself,” she said. “Everyone was so welcoming. I didn’t feel out of place. I felt comfortable.”

Manuel, who walked on to the track and field team and now serves as an involvement leader mentoring new students, describes her experience at IC in one word: “great.”

She initially planned to major in health sciences but found her calling in behavioral health, a field that allows her to combine her interest in the medical world with her natural gift for working with people. “I love talking to people. I love working with people,” she said. “That’s what I see myself doing in the future.” 

As a legacy student — her mother graduated from Illinois College after transferring and her aunt also attended — Manuel’s connection to the Hilltop began well before move-in day. 

Today, her family regularly attends campus events and track meets, adding another layer of support to her experience. “It’s so cool to hear their stories,” she said. “And now I get to make my own.” 

Manuel credits donor support for many of the opportunities she values most, from athletics to leadership development. 

“I’m very thankful,” she said. “Being on the track team, being an involvement leader, having this tight-knit community. I don’t think that would have been possible without the support from alumni and donors.”

That deep investment of alumni and the broader community is woven into campus life and present in everything that happens on the Hilltop. Each year, thousands of donors give because they believe in Illinois College’s mission to develop the qualities of mind and character needed for fulfilling lives of leadership and service. 

Philanthropy allows the College to prioritize student learning, maintain small class sizes and offer transformative experiences while responding thoughtfully to the challenges facing higher education. 

On January 4, 1830, nine students gathered with Rev. Julian Sturtevant for the first class at Illinois College. Reflecting on that day, Sturtevant said, “We had come there that morning to open a fountain for future generations to drink at.” 

Nearly two centuries later, that image still holds meaning.

Each new student who steps onto the Hilltop benefits from that fountain, continually replenished by a community of those who believe in the power of an Illinois College education. Every gift to the IC Fund is a deposit. Every scholarship created helps ensure the fountain continues to flow. 

More broadly, philanthropy allows Illinois College to remain focused on its primary purpose: undergraduate education that prepares students not only for a profession, but for life. 

While first-time visitors may not immediately recognize how deeply invested the Illinois College community is, students feel that commitment every day. It allows them to focus on learning, explore new opportunities and thrive in an environment shaped by investments that make the enduring tradition of Illinois College possible. 

That shared commitment has sustained Illinois College for nearly 200 years and continues to carry the Hilltop forward with momentum, one generation at a time.